Rio ready to go as Executive Board concludes meeting

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today convened in Rio just a few days before the Olympic Games kick off on 5 August.

Rio ready to go

The focus of the proceedings was, of course, on Games preparations, with a final report from the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

Rio 2016 presented on the progress of athlete arrivals at the Olympic Village and the services that are being provided to them to make sure that the Olympians of 2016 are able to compete in the best possible conditions. The EB saw the latest images of the Olympic venues, and Rio 2016 confirmed that, with the final touches being put in place, they are ready to go for the Games.

IOC/Ian Jones

Excitement continues to grow around the country, as the Olympic Torch Relay makes its way to Rio de Janeiro. The Relay has been receiving high approval ratings around the country everywhere it has gone, with around one million people believed to have supported the Relay as it passed through the city of São Paulo.

The big kick-off for the Games will be the Opening Ceremony next Friday (5 August). Without revealing any secrets, Rio 2016 promised that the ceremonies would have a Brazilian soul and enchant the world. Tickets for the Opening Ceremony are in high demand, and sales continue to increase across the board. Those wanting to attend the Olympic Games and experience their Carioca style will need to act quickly to avoid disappointment.

The EB was also pleased that Metro Line 4 had been officially opened. This completes the transport legacy that has been created thanks to the catalyst of the Olympic Games. Some 63 per cent of the local population will now have access to high-capacity public transport, up from 18 per cent when Rio was elected to host the Games.

The IOC Coordination Commission Chair for Rio 2016, Nawal El Moutawakel, commented, “We inaugurated metro line 4 earlier today. It is the latest piece of a puzzle that will project Rio into a new era for the city and its inhabitants. The metro will make a significant difference in the everyday life of the Cariocas, and that is what these Games are also about.”

IOC/Ian Jones

Upcoming Olympic Games

The Executive Board also received progress reports on the next two Games — the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Gunilla Lindberg, Chair of the Coordination Commission for PyeongChang 2018, reported “good progress” in PyeongChang, with construction on most competition venues proceeding on schedule.

John Coates, Chair of the Coordination Commission Tokyo 2020, said the Tokyo 2020 team is “delivering key milestones on time”. Both Organising Committees, as well as the Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, will offer a preview of their upcoming Games at hospitality houses in Rio de Janeiro.

Change of nationality

The EB today also approved the change of nationalities for three athletes who will compete in Rio:

International Ski Mountaineering Federation

The IOC EB has agreed to propose the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) for full recognition by the IOC Session later next week. The ISMF received provisional recognition from the IOC back in April 2014.

Participation of Russian athletes in Rio

The EB decided to delegate the final decision on the acceptance of entries of Russian athletes to a Review Panel composed of three IOC Executive Board Members: Uğur Erdener, Claudia Bokel and Juan Antonio Samaranch. The Review Panel is due to make a final decision in the coming days.